Trainee journalist at Cardiff JOMEC, English & German graduate from the University of Exeter, former editor of Exeposé student newspaper and winner of 'Best Interview' at the 2017 Student Publication Association national awards.

The Berlin U-Bahn is OK with you being weird

The Local Germany (11 December 2015)

Ever wondered whether you can ride your horse on the tube? Grate cheese? Do the splits? We know we have. But happily, the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) has made a video to answer all these burning questions – and more.

The latest advert by BVG has whipped up a storm across Europe – and it’s not hard to guess why.

In “Ist mir egal” (“I don’t care”), rapper Kazim Akboga – in uniform as a BVG official – gives passengers the low-down on proper etiquette when travelling with BVG.

“The whole meaning of the video is to have fun,” BVG spokesperson Josefin Langer told The Local.

“We want to tell everyone that it’s not important how you look, where you come from, or what skin colour you have – we’re just here to take you from one place to another.”

It’s a message that’s particularly important as thousands of refugees arrive in Berlin, she added.

The track appeared on YouTube on Friday 11th December, and BVG’s link to the video received almost 9,000 shares within the first five hours of appearing on Facebook.

“It’s gone through Europe!” said Langer. “We’ve had calls from Finland, France, Austria…”

It turns out there are quite a few things Akboga “doesn’t care” about.

Whether all of these correspond with BVG’s official rules is another thing – but it’s pretty entertaining, either way.

So what exactly are you allowed to do on a BVG train, according to Akboga? Well…

1. Yawn at the conductor on a Monday morning

Image: BVG / YouTube screenshot

Ok, this isn’t weird. Actually, it’s pretty unavoidable.

Bonus points to anyone who can resist the urge to yawn when looking at this picture. We didn’t manage it.

2. Wear a crop top

Image: BVG / YouTube screenshot

Oh come on. It may be surprisingly mild for December in Berlin… but it’s not that warm.

3. Play loud music

The guys in the video are sombrero-clad and playing guitars – but we reckon you’d get away with most genres. Even techno, probably.

4. Bring a dog in a shark costume

Image: BVG / YouTube screenshot

Because why not.

5. Carry your sofa on the train

What’s a Berliner to do when they move house? Pay for a removal company?!

Of course not. If the sofa fits on the tube, it’s travelling by tube.

6. Ride a horse

Because if there’s one thing more exciting than cantering through grassy meadows, it’s getting the U2 to Pankow.

7. Sit on another guy’s lap

Image: BVG / YouTube screenshot

It does save seats, we guess.

8. Give a free striptease

Little known fact: the poles most passengers use to stay standing are also the perfect platform for a cheeky pole-dance. (Apparently)